(CNN) – Still fresh off an Election Day drubbing, President Obama plans to huddle with another ex-president whose first midterm election resulted in massive defeats for his party.

Obama will meet with former President Bill Clinton in a closed-door meeting at the White House at 3 p.m. ET Friday. It remains unclear what the two men will discuss, though it's expected the disappointing result for Democrats last month and the proper way forward will be a key topic of the discussions.
Clinton famously veered toward the middle of the political spectrum after the 1994 midterm election losses, a move that was partly credited with leading to an easy reelection victory two years later.

But the most liberal members of Obama's base have made clear they are in no mood to see their president move in the GOP's direction – a fact that was made clear with Obama's compromise on the tax cuts earlier this week and the subsequent backlash from Democrats it unleashed.

soundoff(37 Responses)

Unenrolled in Massachusetts

It sure must be lonely at the top. Obama has done a great job so far of steering this country through the mess that the previous administration left him with. This is quite a feat when you consider the opposition he was up against from the party of no.

The democrats in congress had two years to come forward with a bill that would deal with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and they punted, so the President stepped in and came up with the best deal he could get. The US economy will be toast if nothing is done and Bush tax credits expire. The POTUS first priority is to protect the USA and that includes its economy, so that's what he did. The next election cycle should be real interesting.

December 10, 2010 10:19 am at 10:19 am |

Steve

Clinton should be president again. All of this mess took 8 years to create....Americans expect to much to fast...by giving congress back to the problem makers....only futher gridlocks the already broken system. America deserves what it getting!

December 10, 2010 10:19 am at 10:19 am |

Rob R

As a liberal, I would love to see a more progressive agenda pass through Congress, but as a pragmatist, I understand that the only way things will get done is if both sides are willing to give and take. Clinton understood this and that's why he won re-election and continues to enjoy high approval ratings today.

Granted, the Bush years were very unproductive and a move away from "conservative" politics is what people wanted when they voted in 2008, but given the obstructionism of Republicans hell-bent on denying Obama a second-term, "triangulation" may be Obama's best bet for re-election. He is going to need to bring back indepenents and is going to also have to stick to his guns on policies that the majority of Americans favor – such as expiring tax cuts for millionaires.

Clinton should teach Obama how to stand up to Republicans and not get slapped around.

December 10, 2010 10:21 am at 10:21 am |

Tom

This seems appropriate. Bill failed to deliver on his election promises (Social Security & healthcare), Obama is heading in a similar same direction unless something changes. Obama is also trying to counter Clinton's controversial "Don't ask, don't tell" order.

December 10, 2010 10:24 am at 10:24 am |

Dominican mama 4 Obama

Who would've thought it back during the campaign, huh?
With the passing of Ted Kennedy Obama was left without a mentor; a seasoned politician and Washington insider to help him navigate through the rhetoric, lies, and false promises.
I hope Bubba can do right by the President for the sake of Party and country.

December 10, 2010 10:32 am at 10:32 am |

Me love you long time John McCain

Hows that One World Thingy workin out for you now boys?They just keep selling good jobs to other countries.

December 10, 2010 10:32 am at 10:32 am |

Strudas

Well, if he's going to talk to someone about it, it might as well be the guys that balanced the federal budget.